Heel and arch support



Nov. 27 1928. 1,693,424

H. H. AHERN HEEL AND ARCH SUPPORT Filed April 5. 1928 INVENTOR:

Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

HARRY n. AHERN, F NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA.

HEEL AND ARCH SUPPORT.

Application filed April 5,

My invention relates to a new and useful ;-heel and arch spring support which is adapted to be detachably positioned within a shoe to provide resilient support for the heel and arch of the foot.

My invention further relates to a heel and arch support of this character which, while giving maximum resiliency and support, is light in weight and provides a soft tread.

My invention further relates to a heel and arch support formed of metals of different electro-static properties so that a galvanic current isproduced byt-he acid incident to foot perspiration.

My invention further relates to a heel and arch support which is so shaped as to fit the bottom contour of the foot and which does not tend to slip or to be'displaced within the shoe.

To the above ends my invention consists of an arch support composed of two upper and lower spaced flexible metal plates having a rear depressed portion for the reception of the heel and an upwardly curved portion adapted to contact with the arch of the foot, and having a bottom spring to provide a resilient support.

My invention further consists of various other novel features of construction and ad vantage, all as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of I which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my inven- 1928. Serial No. 267,4 9.

reference r characters indicate like parts, 1 designates a novel heel and arch support em: 7 bodying my invention, comprising an upper flexible metal plate 2 and a lower flexible metalv plate 3. The lower flexible metal plate 3 is secured to the upper. flexible plate 2 by V the continuous lip or flange 4, bent downwardly and inwardly to enclose and engage the edge of the lower plate 3,!it being understood that said plates may be secured to each other in any other desirable manner. A spring 5 is secured to the bottom plate 3 by means of the rivets 6 or the like, said spring being curved downwardly or bulged outwardly as at 7 and again upwardly as at 8, and terminating in the downwardly bent free end portion 9. The upwardly curved or humped portion S'bears against a shield 10 which is a plate interposed between said curved or humped portion of said spring and the juxtaposed portion of the bottom plate 3, said shield being secured to the "plate 3 in any suitable manner and preventing said plate from abrasion. The plates 2 and 3 l are spaced apart as at 12 to provide resiliency andsoftness of tread. The plates 2 and 3 are further provided with the aligning rear depressions 14 for the reception of the heel of the foot which as is well known from human anatomy protrudes lower than the arch about the central portion of said plates, that i is, at the point aligning with the arch of the foot, and gradually tapers or decr'easesas the heel and instep portions are approached,

where little or no resiliency or support is needed. Similarly, the spring 5 is of great-- est curvature and tension at the point corresponding to and aligning with the arch of the foot, thus giving maximum resilient port to the arch of the cut from Figure 3.

By providing the space 12 between the plates 2 and 3, I rovide a resiliency and softness of tread wh1ch would not be available if supfoot, as will be appara single plate of sheet metal were employed. 7

The shield 10 is interposed between the end This resiliency is further enhanced by the provision of the spring 5 which while notoccupying additional space, is so positioned as to enhance the resiliency of the convexed portion' '17 which supports the arch of the foot.

of ,the spring 8 and the juxtaposed point or portion of the lower plate 3 to prevent wearing out of the latterby the friction'of the curved spring portion 8 as the pressure on the spring varies during the a'et of walking. Thus asthe weight of the body is transferred from the heel of the foot to the instep, and as the heel is raisedwithrespect to the fulcrum point j'ustibehind the toes, the entire weight of thebody rests momentarily u-ponthe'arch of the foot. 'Ast-he weight of the'body pro- V gresses forward, from the rear to front portion of the arch of the foot, the spring 5 and the plates 2 and'3' are correspondingly and proportionally compressed, thus providing a sliding or'shifting support corresponding with the shifting of the weight of the body, and thus keeping the arch of the foot constantly supported and reinforced.

. By providing the depression lt I not'only provide a seat for the heel ofthe foot, but I am also enabled to use my novel arch and heel support without the aid of any auxiliary fastening devices, that is, I provide a device that will'reta'inits proper position and which will not slide or shift within the shoe.

If desired, I may employ upper plates 2 of metals havingdilferent eleetro-static properties such as zinc, and copper, thus forming an anode and a'cathode or positive and negative poles which when acted upon by the acid in- V cident to perspiration-of the 'feet, will generate a galvaniccurrent which possesses admitted therapeutic advantages.

My novel heel and arch support is detach able and maybe made invarious standard sizes'to fit varioussizes of shoes and that the same ma'y be adapted'foruse in mens, womens and childrens shoes indiscriminately.-

It will further be apparent that I have dey vised a; heel and arch support which is eX-.

- tremely light compared to conventional arch supports heretofore known and employed, and that my novel heel and arch support tends 'tocool the'feetsince the metals from which it is made are good heat conductors which conduct'and radiate heat at a'much quicker rate than leather and other materials heretofore employed, which as is well known are heat insulators or poor conductors.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in o'th'erspecific forms without depart scope of the invention.

Having thus descrilbed my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In device of the character stated, an upper plate and a lower plate having a contour to fitthe rear portion of a shoe, said plates being secured together at their outer peripheral edges but spaced apart with respectfto each other at their intermediate and rear portions, and bottom spring secured to and extending reanw ardly from. the front portion of said bottom plate and having its free end adapted to bear upwardlythereagainst, there being aligning depressions for aheel in said upper and lower plates extending rearrardly from the free end of said spring.

2. In a device of the-character stated, an upper plate and a lower plate formed of spring metal and having rear depressed heel and front convexed arch portions, said plates being assembled in spaced relation to each other, a bottom spring having one end'thereof secured to the front portion of said bottomplate and having its rear free end juXta-posec to said bottom plate adjacent the junction of said heel portion and said arch port-ion, and a protecting shield intermediate the free end of said spring and said bottom'plate to prevent abrasion of the latter. I a j Y 8. In a device of the character stated, an upper plate and a lower plate having a con tour to fit the rear portion of a shoe, said' plates being assembled in spaced relation with respect-t0 each. other by a peripheral flange on said upper plate, a bottom spring secured to thefront portion of said bottom plate and extending rearwardly therefrom and having its free end 'adapted to bear upwardly thereagainshancl a protecting shield intermediate said bottom plat-e and the free end of saidspring topreventabrasion ofsaid plate, there being aligningdepressions for a heel in said upper andlower plate positioned:

rearwardly from the free end of said spring, the maximum space between-said plates being juxtaposed to the free end of said spring and the front portions ofsaid plates being in contact fro n a point beyond the fixed end of said spring.

HARRY n; nni-n1. 

